Window regulator mechanism

ABSTRACT

A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into and out of a window well between vehicle body panels, the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections. With the window panel in raised condition, the mechanism first may be actuated to lower the ventilation section into the window well to provide a ventilation exhaust opening in the vehicle body and then, if desired, further actuated to lower the visibility section into the window well. From a lowered condition, the sequence of movements to raise the panel sections is reversed. The window regulator mechanism comprises a pair of window regulator arms coupled respectively to the ventilation and visibility sections of the window panel. The regulator arms are also coupled to a gear sector of the window regulator mechanism through cam slot and follower systems. The cam slot and follower system for the ventilation section is programmed so that upon rotation of the gear sector through a first phase of movement in window opening direction the ventilation section is lowered to a predetermined position. During further or second phase rotation of the gear sector, the follower moves in a lost motion section of the cam slot without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section. The cam slot and follower system for the visibility section is programmed so that during first phase movement of the gear sector, i.e., movement causing lowering of the ventilation section, a latch plate means pivoted on the visibility section regulator arm engages a keeper device to hold the visibility section regulator arm against movement, the follower on the gear sector passing through a lost motion section of a cam slot in the latch plate means. Upon further or second phase movement of the gear sector, the follower is aligned with a section of the cam slot that permits the latch plate means to shift from keeper engaging position to a position in which the gear sector and regulator arm are locked to each other for up and down movement of the visibility section.

United States Patent [191 Hartmeyer et al.

[ WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM [75] Inventors: John J. Hartmeyer, RedfordTownship; Errol J. Ott, Lincoln Park, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearbom,

Mich.

[22] Filed: May 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 358,775

[52] US. Cl. 49/103, 49/227 [51] Int. Cl E05f 5/12 [58] Field of Search49/103, 227, 348-350 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,659,381 5/1972 Frey et al 49/103 3,670,454 6/1972 Gebhard et a1.

3,733,748 6/1973 Heesch 49/103 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Keith L. Zerschling; John J.

Roethal 5 7 ABSTRACT June 18, 1974 the visibility section into thewindow well. From a low ered condition, the sequence of movements toraise the panel sections is reversed.

The window regulator mechanism comprises a pair of window regulator armscoupled respectively to the ventilation and visibility sections of thewindow panel. The regulator arms are also coupled to a gear sector ofthe window regulator mechanism through cam slot and follower systems.The cam slot and follower system for the ventilation section isprogrammed so that upon rotation of the gear sector through a firstphase of movement in window opening direction the ventilation section islowered to a predetermined position. During further or second phaserotation of the gear sector, the follower moves in a lost motion sectionof the cam slot without causing further lowering movement of theventilation section.

, passing through a lost motion section of a cam slot in the latch platemeans. Upon further or second phase movement of the gear sector, thefollower is aligned with a section of the cam slot that permits thelatch plate means to shift from keeper engaging position to a positionin which the gear sector and regulator arm are locked to each other forup and down movement of the visibility section.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No.3,659,381 issued to Stewart M. Frey et al, on May 2, 1972 for VentWindow System for Vehicle Body Structure and US. Pat. No. 3,670,454issued to Harold C. Gebhard et al on June 20, 1972 Vertical Drop VentWindow System each disclose variations of window regulator mechanismsfor raising and lowering in a window opening in a vehicle body structurea win dow panel vertically divided into a ventilation section and avisibility section.

Each of the foregoing mechanisms utilize a single window regulatormechanism to raise and lower the panel sections in controlled sequence.The Frey et al and Gebhard et al systems have a somewhat cmplicatedsystem of arms and links, and complex latch mechanisms are provided tohold the large visibility sections against movement in any position ofthe ventilation sections other than when the latter are fully lowered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single windowregulator mechanism for lowering and raising the visibility andventilation sections ofia window panel which represents a simplificationof the systems disclosed in the cited patents. The mechanism embodyingthe present invention utilizes cam and follower systems for controllingthe movements of the ventilation section and for controlling a latchingdevice operable to hold the visibility section in raised position untilthe ventilation section has been lowered and then further operable tolock the visibility sector regulator arm to the gear sector for movementafter the ventilation section has been lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a window regulatormechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into or out of awindow well between vehicle body panels, the window panel beingvertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibilitysections. The window regulator mechanism comprises a mounting platesecured to one of the body panels and a gear sector rotatably mountedfor first and second phases of movement on a first pivot shaftjournalled in the mounting plate. A first regulator arm is mounted atone of its ends for swinging movement on a second pivot shaft carried bythe mounting plate in spaced relation to the first pivot shaft. Thefirst regulator arm is coupled at its other end to the ventilationsection.

A second regulator arm is mounted intermediate its ends for swingingmovement about the gear sector pivot shaft and is coupled at one of itsends to the visibility section and has'a latch plate means pivotallysupported on its other end. The latch plate means is engagable with akeeper device carried on the mounting plate to hold the second regulatorarm in visibility section raised position during a first phase ofmovement of the gear sector when the latter is rotated in panel loweringdirection.

A cam slot means on the first regulator arm extends substantiallyradially of the second pivot shaft and coacts with a first cam followermeans carried bythe gear sector. The cam slot means has a firstregulator arm movement controlling section and a lost motion section.Movement of the first cam follower means and the arm movementcontrolling section during the first phase of movement of the gearsector causes the first regulator arm to be driven from a ventilationsection raised position to a predetermined lowered position. During thesecond phase of movement of the gear sector, the first cam followermeans moves through the lost motion section of the cam slot meanswithout causing further lowering movement of the visibility section.

A second cam follower means carried by the gear sector coacts with a camslot means in the latch plate. The latch plate cam slot means has a lostmotion section and a latch plate movement control section. During thefirst phase of movement of the gear sector the second cam follower meansmoves in the lost motion section of the latch plate cam slot means andthe visibility section regulator arm remains immobile. Upon the gearsector entering its second phase of movement, the second cam followermeans aligns with the movement control section of the latch plate camslot means and permits thelatch plate means to move in unlatching di-DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, advantages and features ofthe present invention will become more apparent as the descriptionproceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body structure, such as avehicle door, having a sectional window panel mounted therein adapted tobe raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the window regulator mechanismillustrating the parts thereof in window panel raised position;

FIG. 3 is a view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the partsthereof in a relationship in which the ventilation section of the windowpanel has been lowered and the visibility section is ready to begin itsdownward movement; and

FIG. 4 is a view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the parts of thewindow regulator mechanism when both the ventilation and visibilitysections are in their lowermost positions within the vehicle bodystructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings,there is illustrated in dot-and-dash outline a portion of a vehicle bodystructure, such as a door,generally designated 1 l. The door has innerand outer panels 12 and 13, respectively, defining a window well.Between and on the panels 12 and 13 the various mechanical hardwareitems, such as a door latch mechanism (not shown), a window guideassembly 14, a door glass run and bracket assembly 15, and a windowregulator'mechanism, generally designated 16, and embodying the presentinvention, are mounted.

The window panel, generally designated 17, is vertically divided intotwo separately movable sections, a small or ventilation section 18 and amuch larger main or visibility section 19. As in a conventional vehicleinstallation, the window panel 17 is adapted to be raised and loweredrelative to the window well defined by the inner and outer panels 12-13of the door structure 11. ln accordance with the present invention, thewindow regulator mechanism 16 is constructed and arranged to raise andlower the window panel sections 18 and 19 in sequential movements.

The window regulator mechanism 16 comprises a horizontally elongatedbase or mounting plate 21 adapted to be mounted as by bolts 22 to theinner door panel 12. The gear sector 23 is rotatably journalled on apivot shaft 24 positioned substantially centrally of the mounting plate,the gear sector 23 being freely rotatable on the pivot shaft. The gearsector 23 is illustrated as being drivable in window raising or loweringdirections by a conventional hand crank window regulator drive pinionand clutch assembly 25.

The window regulator mechanism 16 utilizes a pair of window regulatorarms. The first arm 26 is mounted at one of its ends 27 on a pivot shaft28 located at one corner of the mounting plate 21. The second arm 29 isan elongated sinuous arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on thegear sector pivot shaft 24. This second arm 29 is keyed to the pivotshaft 24 for rotation therewith.

The free ends 31 and 32 of each arm 26 and 29, respectively, carries aroller 33. The roller 33 on the end 31 of arm 26 rides in guide channelmember 34 carried on a bracket 35 attached to the lower edge of theventilation section 18 of the window panel 17. The roller 33 mounted onthe free end of the arm 29 is engaged with and travels on the channelmember 36 carried on the bracket 37 that is secured to the lower edge ofthe visibility panel section 19.

The bracket 37 is a part of the door glass run and bracket assemblywhich guides the rear portion of the window panel 1'7 as it is raisedand lowered between the inner and outer body or door panels 12 and 13.The details of construction of the door glass run and bracket assemblyform no part of the present invention. The ventilation section 18 isguided in part in its up and down movements relative to the visibilitysection 19 by a sealing channel 38 secured to the front edge of thevisibility section 19.

Rotary movement of the gear sector 23 is translated into swingingmovement of the ventilation section or first regulator arm 26 by a camfollower means 39 mounted on the gear sector 23. The cam follower means39 projects laterally of the gear sector 23 into a cam slot means 41extending radially of the first regulator arm 26. Cam slot means 41 hastwo sections, an angularly inclined, short, straight section 42 and anelon gated, curved section 43.

Rotary movement of the gear sector 23 is translated into swingingmovement of the second or visibility section regulator arm 29 by afollower means 44. The follower means 44 coacts with a cam slot means 45carried on a latch plate means 46 pivotally supported by a pivot 47 atthe upper portion 48 of the end 49 of the second regulator arm 29. Thecam slot means 45 has two sections 51 and 52. The section 51 is a lostmotion section which permits the follower means 44 to traverse thelength of the section 51 without causing any movement of the arm 29. Itshould be noted that the arm 29 has an arcuate slot 53 which underliesthe cam slot section 51 and through which the cam follower means 44projects. Both the arcuate slot 53 and the cam slot section 51 permitthe free movement of the follower means 44 about the center of rotationdefined by the pivot shaft 24.

The cam slot section 52 is angularly inclined with respect to theterminal or upper end of the slot section 51 and permits, under certainconditions, the latch plate means 46 to swing in a clockwise direction,as viewed in the drawings, into a locking position in which the followermeans 44 and the latch plate means 46 coact to lock the arm 29 to thegear sector 23.

At its upper left-hand corner 54, as viewed in the drawings, the latchplate means 46 carries a latch pin 55. The latch pin 55 is engagablewith a keeper device 56 mounted on an extension 57 of the mounting plate21. The keeper device 56 has an arcuate recess 58 having a lip portion59 adapted to catch the latch pin 55 as the latch plate means 46 bodilyswings about a center of rotation which is the gear sector pivot shaft24.

The window regulator mechanism includes several springs. A main spring61 of the flat spiral type is coupled to the pivot shaft 24 and has itsfree end 62 anchored to the mounting plate 21. Since the secondregulator arm 29 is keyed to the shaft 24, the spring 61 counterbalancesthe weight of the visibility section 19 of the window panel 17 as thelatter is lowered and raised.

An auxiliary spring 63 of the same type as the main spring 61 is coupledto the pivot shaft 28 to which the first regulator arm 26 is keyed. Thefree end 64 of the spring 63 is anchored to the mounting plate 21 andcounterbalances the weight of the arm 26 and ventilation section 18 ofthe panel 17 as the latter is raised and lowered.

Another spring utilized is a tension spring 65 which extends between thelower end 66 of the latch plate means 46 and an anchor point 67 on thesecond regulator arm 29. The spring 65 urges the latch plate means 46 ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings.

OPERATION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the window panel 17 is shownin a raised position relative to the window well in the vehicle body ordoor structure 11. That is, both the ventilation section 18 and thevisibility section 19 are in their raised position and the related drivearms 26-29 are in corresponding raised positions.

If it is now desired to provide exhaust ventilation of the vehiclepassenger compartment by lowering the ventilation section 18, this canbe accomplished by rotating the drive pinion assembly 25 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings, to drive the gearsector 23 in a clockwise direction. Although the gear sector 23 may berotated from one end to the other without interruption, it is preferableto consider the movement of the gear sector as being divided into twophases. The phase one movement is related to the lowering of theventilation section 18 and the phase two movement is related to thelowering of the visibility section 19.

During the phase one movement of the gear sector 23, the first orventilation window support arm 26 moves from the FIG. 2 position to theFIG. 3 position. That is, as the drive pinion 25 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, the gear sector 23 rotates in a clockwisedirection and carries the follower means 39 around the center ofrotation defined by the pivot shaft 24. The follower means 39 movesdownwardly in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot shaft 24. Asit begins its downward movement from the position shown in FIG. 2, thefollower means 39 engages the bottom edge of the cam slot section 42causing the first regulator arm 26 to be swung in a counterclockwisedirection about its pivot shaft 28. As the arm 26 swings in acounterclockwise direction, the roller 33 at the upper end of the arm 26drives the ventilation section 18 downwardly.

The downward movement of the ventilation section 18 continues until thefollower means 39 comes out of l the slot section 42 and enters the slotsection 43 of the cam slot means 41. As best seen in FIG. 3, the slotsection 43 is positioned so that it provides a true radius about thepivot shaft 24. As the follower means 39 continues its rotation aboutthe pivot shaft 24, it has no further effect on the first regulator armsince it too is following a true radius path about the pivot shaft 24 asit moves from one end of the cam slot section 43 to the other. This,however, corresponds to the second phase of movement of the gear sector23, as will be more fully explained.

During the first phase of movement of the gear sector 23 in which theventilation section is lowered, there is no corresponding movement ofthe visibility section 19. Rather, the visibility section 19 is held ina locked, raised position. This is accomplished by the latch plate means46 carried on the end 49 of the second or visibility regulator arm 29.The latch pin 55 is engaged with the walls of the recess 58 in thekeeper device 56. It will be noted that the latch pin 55 is on a linebelow a horizontal line passing through the pivot point 47 of the latchplate means 46, thus setting up an overcenter relationship which blocksany movement of the second regulator arm 29. This overcenterrelationship is maintained by the coaction between the second followermeans 44 which is located at the lower end of the slot 53 in theregulator arm 29 and the slot section 51 of the cam slot means 45 in thelatch plate means 46. During the first phase of movement of the gearsector 23, the follower means 44 moves along the slots 45 and 51 butmaintains the latch plate means 46 in its latching engagement with thekeeper device 56 during the full traverse of the follower means 44.

FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the various parts of the windowregulator mechanism at the completion of the first phase of movement ofthe gear sector 23. To recapitulate, the first or ventilation sectionregulator arm 26 has been moved from its FIG. 1 position to asubstantially horizontal position in which the ventilation section 18 islowered below the upper edge of the window well. The second orvisibility section regulator arm 29 has not moved and the visibilitysection remains in raised position. However, the latch plate means 46 isnow conditioned to be released. That is, the cam follower means 44 hasbeen moved from the lower ends of the arcuate slot 53 and the cam slotmeans 45 to the upper end of the arcuate slot 53 and to a transitionpoint between the section 51 and 52 of the cam slot means 45. i

With the ventilation section 18 lowered, if it is now desired to lowerthe visibility section, it is necessary to continue rotation of thedrive pinion 25 in a counterclockwise direction to cause continuedrotation of the gear sector 23 in a clockwise direction. As the gearsector 23 moves into this second phase of movement, the follower means39 traverses the slot means 41 of the first regulator arm 26 and, asnoted above, no further downward movement of the arm 26 occurs. The camfollower means 44 moves up into alignment with the slot section 52 ofthe cam slot means 45. As this occurs, the downward pressure on thelatch plate means 46 tending to seat the latch pin 55 in the keeperdevice 56 is eased. This permits the tension spring 65 to rotate thelatch plate means 46 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotsupport 47. The latch plate means 46 moves relatively to the camfollower means 45 until the end of the slot section 52 is reached. Atthis point the cam follower means 44 coacts with the latch plate means46 to lock the visibility section regulator arm 29 to the gear sector23. As the gear sector 23 continues its second phase of rotation, it nowswings the visibility section regulator arm 29 in a clockwise directionabout the pivot shaft 24 causing the visibility section 19 to belowered. The final lowered position of the visibility section regulatorarm 29 is shown in FIG. 4.

When the ventilation and visibility panel sections 18 and 19,respectively, are in fully lowered position, the sequence of movementsnecessary to raise them is the reverse and occurs upon the gear sector23 being rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the drive pinion 25.Since the regulator arm 29 is locked to the gear sector 23,counterclockwise rotation of the gear sector causes the regulator arm tobe swung in a counterclockwise direction raising the visibility panelsection. As the end 49 of the regulator arm 29 swings toward the keeperdevice 56, the latch pin 55 abuts the lip portion 59 of the recess 58 inthe keeper device 56 causing the latch plate to be swung in a clockwisedirection and aligning the lost motion section 51 of the cam slot means45 with the follower means 44 (see FIG. 3). In the meanwhile, the camfollower means 39 has traversed the arcuate section 43 of the cam slotmeans 41 in the visibility section regulator arm 26. With the visibilitysection fully raised, the reverse second phase movement of the gearsector is completed. To raise the ventilation section, it is nownecessary to continue rotating the gear sector 23 in a counterclockwisedirection. The cam follower means 44 on the end 49 of the regulator arm29 moves in the lost motion section 51 of the cam slot means 45 andcauses no further movement of the second regulator arm 29. The camfollower means 39 enters the straight section 42 of the cam slot means41 and picks up the first or visibility section regulator arm 26 causingthe latter to be swung in an upward clockwise direction about its pivotaxis 28. This movement continues until the visibility section is fullyraised. The latch means 46, having; engaged the keeper device upon thecompletion of the reverse second phase of movement of the gear sector23, latches the visibility section regulator arm 29 against movement ineither an up or down direction.

Downward movement of the window panel in its re spective sections 18 and19 may be interrupted at any time so that the ventilation section 18 maybe partially opened or fully opened and the visibility section, afterthe ventilation section has been fully opened, may also be placed in apartially or fully opened condition. Conversely, during raising movementof the panel 17, the operation may be interrupted at any time so thatthe visibility section 19 may be partially or fully closed andsubsequently, after the visibility section 19 is fully closed, theventilation section 18 may be moved to a partially opened or fullyclosed position.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exactconstruction illustrated and described above, but that various changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panelinto or out of a window well between vehicle body panels,

the window panel being vertically divided into separately movableventilation and visibility sections, the window regulator comprising:

a mounting plate secured to one of the body panels,

a gear sector rotatably mounted for first and second phases of movementon a first pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate,

a first regulator arm mounted at one of its ends for swinging movementon a second pivot shaft carried by the mounting plate in spaced relationto the first pivot shaft,

the first regulator arm being coupled at its other end to theventilation section,

a second regulator arm mounted intermediate its ends for swingingmovement about the gear sector pivot shaft,

the second regulator arm being coupled at one of its ends to thevisibility section and having a latch plate means pivotally supported onits other end,

the latch plate means being engagable with a keeper device carried onthe mounting plate to hold the second regulator arm in visibilitysection raised position during a first phase of movement of the gearsector upon the latter being rotated in panel lowering direction,

spring means extending between the latch plate means and the secondregulator arm urging the latch plate means toward engagement with thekeeper device,

cam slot means on the first regulator arm extending substantiallyradially of the second pivot shaft coacting with a first cam followermeans carried by the gear sector,

the cam slot means having a first regulator arm movement controllingsection and a lost motion section,

movement of the first cam follower means in the arm movement controllingsection during the first phase of movement of the gear sector causingthe first regulator arm to be driven from a ventilation section raisedposition to a predetermined lowered position,

and during the second phase of movement of the gear sector the first camfollower means moving through the lost motion section without causingfurther lowering movement of the ventilation section,

a second cam follower means carried by the gear sector coacting with acam slot means in the latch plate,

the latch plate cam slot means having a lost motion section and a latchplate movement control section,

during the first phase of movement of the gear sector the second camfollower means moving in the lost motion section of the latch plate cammeans and upon the gear sector entering its second phase of movement thesecond cam follower means aligning with the movement control section ofthe latch plate cam slot means permitting the latch plate means to movein unlatching direction from keeper device engagement into a lockingposition coupling the second regulator arm to the gear sector forswinging movement,

and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sector through its firstand second phases of movement and vice-versa about the first pivotshaft.

2. A window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the second cam follower means during movement of the gear sector throughits first phase moves through a lost motion slot in the end of thesecond regulator arm carrying the latch plate means.

1. A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panelinto or out of a window well between vehicle body panels, the windowpanel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation andvisibility sections, the window regulator comprising: a mounting platesecured to one of the body panels, a gear sector rotatably mounted forfirst and second phases of movement on a first pivot shaft journalled inthe mounting plate, a first regulator arm mounted at one of its ends forswinging movement on a second pivot shafT carried by the mounting platein spaced relation to the first pivot shaft, the first regulator armbeing coupled at its other end to the ventilation section, a secondregulator arm mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement aboutthe gear sector pivot shaft, the second regulator arm being coupled atone of its ends to the visibility section and having a latch plate meanspivotally supported on its other end, the latch plate means beingengagable with a keeper device carried on the mounting plate to hold thesecond regulator arm in visibility section raised position during afirst phase of movement of the gear sector upon the latter being rotatedin panel lowering direction, spring means extending between the latchplate means and the second regulator arm urging the latch plate meanstoward engagement with the keeper device, cam slot means on the firstregulator arm extending substantially radially of the second pivot shaftcoacting with a first cam follower means carried by the gear sector, thecam slot means having a first regulator arm movement controlling sectionand a lost motion section, movement of the first cam follower means inthe arm movement controlling section during the first phase of movementof the gear sector causing the first regulator arm to be driven from aventilation section raised position to a predetermined lowered position,and during the second phase of movement of the gear sector the first camfollower means moving through the lost motion section without causingfurther lowering movement of the ventilation section, a second camfollower means carried by the gear sector coacting with a cam slot meansin the latch plate, the latch plate cam slot means having a lost motionsection and a latch plate movement control section, during the firstphase of movement of the gear sector the second cam follower meansmoving in the lost motion section of the latch plate cam means and uponthe gear sector entering its second phase of movement the second camfollower means aligning with the movement control section of the latchplate cam slot means permitting the latch plate means to move inunlatching direction from keeper device engagement into a lockingposition coupling the second regulator arm to the gear sector forswinging movement, and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sectorthrough its first and second phases of movement and vice-versa about thefirst pivot shaft.
 2. A window regulator mechanism according to claim 1,in which: the second cam follower means during movement of the gearsector through its first phase moves through a lost motion slot in theend of the second regulator arm carrying the latch plate means.